emmens



(No Model.)

2 SheetsShe et 1.

S. H. EMMENS.

SHELL.

Patented Nov; 5, 1889.

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(No Model.) 2 sheets -sheet 2. S. H. EMMENS.

SHELL.

Patented Nov; 5, 1889.

Snwcml'oz STEPHEN HENRY Elva/news,

2 billing/Z and useful Improvement in A. 'tillery-Irojeot- UNITED STATES- STEPHEN H. EMMENS, OF LONDON EJGLANI).

SHELL.

: ISPECIFICATION formingpart ofLettersPatent No. 414,389, dated Novembe 5, 1889. I mman and January 11,1889. Serial in. 296,048. mom aa.) I

.TojtZZ when, ibmay concern.- Be it known that I, .STEPH EN HENRY FM- MENS, a subject of the Queerv of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of London, England, temporarily residing at Harrison, in the Stateof New York, have :nvented a new ilcs, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafters et forth and claimed, which are-embodied in an improved explosive projectile forordinary artillery.

. 1 head interchangeabletherewith on one and the -same shell-body,

-.. .thirdly, to extend and The objects of the present invention are, first, to provide for t sing cithe a solid armorpenetrat-ing head 01 -a hollow fuse-inclosing the latter containing an initial cartridge and a self-ii ring pe. 'cussion-fuse; secondly, to provide the projectile with a selffiring percussion-fuse of Lighten tl ebase of the 4 projectile so as to facilitate accurate centering,-and by the'same means to cushion the projectile against the first shock of discharge, and, fourthly, to adapt tin impro ed base to I .thefdem'ands of breech-a dcrs.

Two sheets of drawings specification as part thereof.

- Figule l of the drawings represents an axial longitudinal section of an improved armor- .penetrating projectile for breecl-loading artillery. Fig. 2 represents a front view of its armor-pen etrating head. Pig. 3 represents a cross-se'cticn on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents 2 rear VIO W of its base, and Fig. 5 represents a small-scale full-length side view. Figs. (iand LSheet 2, represent sectional elevations of the head end or front of the projectile, showii g interchangeable heads. Fig. 8 represents an elevation of the percussion: fuse enlarged \mcdian eter. Il igs. S) and 10 represent longitudinal sections thereof on this scale, the lauterilluntrating its operation; and Fig. 9* repre w cuts a sectional view'similar to Fig. 9 of a modified fuse.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Interchangeable heads A A Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7, screw on the. way 13 of this projectile by means of accompany this superic r simplicity;

rearwardly-prejecting lips C,

of the'base G','and

which arealikeon both heads. Said headA armor with'grcat efficiency, being of steel, cut in concentric fiat-faced steps of successivelyincreased diameter toward the base, and suit- I The alternative hollow head ablyhardened. I AflFig. 7,, hasan axial bore I), and is provided with. a time-fuse l', or a supplemental fuse of any approved description, con- 'fined to said bore. The body I; isconstrueted with powder-chambers E for a divided main cha rge separated by radial partitions I, Fig. 3, which are integral with the walls of the body and withthe metaliic tion of the base G of the projectile, and with a central tube ll, Figs. 1, 3, 6, and 7. The base G extendsrearwardly in the form of an internally-shouldered cylindrical wall I, Figs. '1 and i, stiffened by internal radial ribs J, and filled with wood packing K. The latter precludes charge of the gun from bursting open the wall I, and acts as a cushion to receive the first shock of the discharge. cheek L occupies a circumferential groove in the wall I. The packing K is held in' place by a washer M and bolt N, the latter screwing into. the rear end of a central nipple 0',

which constitutes the head of a baseplug O. This base-plug 0 screws tightly into an axial opening in the rear of the main diaphragm protrudes within the rear endof the tube II, where it carries a percussion-fuse I, attached thereto, so as to be inserted and held in place by means thereof.

The percussion-fusci, Figs. 1, 8, 9, 9 and 10, comprises an outer metallic tube a, which is screwed on the reduced front end I) of the base-plug. Its front end is provided with a detonating-chamber n and with a hollow anvii-piece d, which extends rearwardly into the main chamber of the fuse, within a capprimer cf A strikcrf, of conical outline in front,is normally held at the rear end of said main chamber gers 1. These fingers are attached within a hollow leaden cylinder gun is fired, when the inertia of the cylinder main por-' A suitable gas by thepressure of spring-fin- 71, which is in turn kept thereby in the front end of, said mainf chamber, as shown in Figs 1 and 9, until the.

the gases of the propelling- IOC ' then engage beneatha circumferential shoulwithin both ends of each powder-chamber.

It causes it to slip backward on the point of the striker f, as represented by the arrow marked 1 in Fig. 9. The spring-fingers g der 1', formed on said point, as represented in Fig. 10, and,when the onward course of the projectile .is arrested the striker, weighted by the leaden cylinder, files forward, as represented by the arrow marked 2 in Fig. 10,

and explodes the primer 0, and thus fires the detonating-charge within the chamber (1. The latter may preferably be formed bya flanged detonator d, inserted, open end inward, through a central opening in the front of the fuse, as represented in Figs. 1, 8, 9, and 10; or the chamber 0 may itself be lilled with a suitable detonating composition, as represented in Fig. 9*. A cartridge E, of emmensite or other high explosive, occupies the remainder of the tube 11 and constitutes an initial bursting or igniting charge to fire the main charge in the chanibers 1*. The bore D, Fig. 7, of the alternative head A is aligned wit-h said tube II, and the terminal detonator v of its fuse .l is thus brought into direct communication with said cartridge E 1 when said alternative head in use. In this case an annular gasket U, of leather or the like, covers the front ends of the powderchambers E Vhen the armor-penetrating head A is used, a circular gasket V, Figs. 1 and 6, is used. In either case suitable cushioning-wadsWV, of wood or the like, are fitted I do not claim herein the combination of a projectile-body providedwith powder-chambers for a divided main charge separated by radial partitions integral with the walls of the body and with a central tube, and a head A screwed on said body and having a bore aligned with said tube, and together with the latter accommodating an initial charge and a fuse or fuses for firing the same. This combination, formed by said alternative head A and other features of the latter, and of the fuse '1 (represented in Fig. 7) are claimed in a companion specification of even date herewith, forming part of application, Serial No. 296,047, filed January 11, 1889. Neither do I claim, broadly, the combination, in an explosive projectile, of a percussion-fuse in an axial tube at rear and a time-fuse in front thereof, the latter separable from the former. Such a combination, broadly considered, is set forth in the expired patent of W. W. Hubbell, dated January 7, 1862, but without any provision for the use of interchangeable heads, which distinguishes this part of my present invention.

Exceptin g thebase G, as peculiarly adapted for breech'loadcrs by its cylindrical exterior and circumferential gas-check L, the several features of my present invention may be embodied alternatively in projectiles for muzzleloaders, and other like modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.v

Having thus described said improved projectile, I claim as my invention and desire to patent under this specification- 1. In a projectile for artillery, the combination, with a suitable head, of a cylindrical body removably screwed into the same, containing the main bursting-charge and having a central tube fasttherein, which terminates substantially in line with the front of its walls, an initial charge within the front end of said tube, and a self-firing percussion-f use located behind and which fires said initial charge, whereby the projectile .is adapted for use with interchangeable heads, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

2. In a projectile for artillery, having a cylindrical body and an axial tube containing an initial bursting-charge, the combination, with a base-plug, of a self-firing percussionfusc comprising an outer tube attached to said plug and having a detonating-chamber at its front end, a hollow an vil'piece projecting rearwardly into its main chamber, a primer embracing the extremities of the latter, a sliding striker having a conical front portion and a circumferential shoulder, and a hollow leaden cylinderhaving internal spring-fingers to engage behind said shoulder, substantially as hereinbefore specified.

A projectile for artillery, having a cylindrical hollow body and a rearwardly-extended base, the latter comprising an internallybraced outer metallic wall and wooden packing fillihg the same, substantially as hereinbet'ore specified.

4:. A projectile forbrecch-loading artillery,

having a cylindrical body and a rcarwardlyextended base, the latter comprising an internally-braced outer Wall which is eylindri cal externally excepting a circumferential groove, and provided with a wooden. packing within said wall and a gas-check within said groove, substantially as heroinbefore specificd.

STEPHEN ll. ICMMENS.

Witnesses:

NEWTON W. EMMENS, Sazuvnr. l. TIAMRI'RG. 

